Just feed it, have water available when the cat wants it, and see that the feline knows where the litter box is and have it cleaned out pretty regularly.

Giving it a little attention when you can doesn't hurt, either. Good luck, HB.

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And attention doesn't have to mean petting. If there are toys laying around, find one that the cat is fond of and play with it.

If there aren't any toys around, head to PetSmart/Petco and find a mouse/bird on the end of a stick. Our cats loved them - they've kind of grown out of them - but it's more interactive than just a toy mouse.

And this is the problem I have. I have inherited a cat from a friend of mine in the past few weeks. The cat is used to being fed in the morning. I normally don't wake up until mid-afternoon. The cat expects feed at 8:30 in the morning and when she doesn't get it, he comes and nudges me with his head. Repeatedly. What I've learned to do is feed it half its ration of food a few hours before I hit the hay. Then the cat is fed and content and ready for bed when I am.

My cat is particularly fond of catnip. Get a bucket of the stuff. Many places also sell stuffed animals to put the catnip in so it doesn't get everywhere.

A scratching post is a must, unless you want your furniture to be ripped to hell.

My advice for the litter box: put it next to the toilet in the bathroom. That room already has enough smells coming out of it anyway. Then, when it's time to scoop, all you have to do is go two feet away and flush.